Scholarships for Hispanic and Latino/a Students
No student demographic group has grown more over the past 45 years than Hispanic and Latino/a students. Between 1980 and 2020, these students have grown from just 3% of the college student population to just over 18%.
Despite this growth, Hispanic and Latino/a students often face serious financial challenges associated with attending college. Some might come from low socio-economic groups, be a member of a migrant family, or be the first in their family to attend college.
Scholarships and grants geared specifically toward Hispanic and Latino/a college students are an important resource for making higher education accessible. Below is a list of scholarships, along with eligibility criteria, application deadlines, and award amounts.
General College Scholarships for Hispanic and Latino/a Students
Sixty-four percent of families used scholarships to help pay for college in 2024, according to the lender Sallie Mae. The year prior, 86% of Hispanic families said this financial aid made college possible.
Here is a list of general scholarships designed to support the growing Hispanic and Latino/a population in the U.S.
Hispanic Scholarship Fund
- Who Is Eligible: Applicants must be of Hispanic heritage and either a U.S. citizen, permanent legal resident, or recipient of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) to be eligible. High school applicants need a minimum 3.0 GPA, and college or graduate school applicants need a minimum 2.5 GPA. Eligible students should plan to enroll in their accredited educational program full time.
- Deadline: February annually
- Award Amount: $500-$5,000 (Based on relative need)
Jean DeGrace Crandall Memorial Scholarship
- Who Is Eligible: Applicants must be seasonal or migratory farmworkers (or the children of these workers) with a history of migration in one of the following New York counties — Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster, or Westchester counties — looking to pursue a college degree. Both high school seniors and current undergraduate students can apply. Individuals must submit a copy of a migrant education certificate of eligibility.
- Deadline: April annually
- Award Amount: $1,000 minimum
TheDream.US National Scholarship
- Who Is Eligible: This scholarship is open to undocumented or DACA- or (Temporary Protected Status) TPS-certified students preparing to, or who have already, graduated from a U.S.-based high school or a GED program. It’s open to students who graduated or will graduate from high school with a minimum 2.5 GPA or have a cumulative college GPA of 2.5 or better. Applicants must have arrived in the U.S. before they turned 16 and must plan to enroll full time in an associate or bachelor’s degree program.
- Deadline: February annually
- Award Amount: Tuition and fees, up to $33,000
Nike HSI Scholarship Program
- Who Is Eligible: Applicants must come from a Hispanic-serving institution (HSI). This means you must be attending a school where the undergraduate student enrollment is at least 25% Hispanic. Recipients must be of Hispanic heritage and have an undergraduate GPA of at least 2.5. First-year undergraduate students who do not yet have a college transcript must submit their high school grades and have a minimum 3.0 GPA.
- Deadline: Sept. 15
- Award Amount: $5,000-$10,000 (Based on demonstrated financial need)
Hispanic Education Endowment Fund Scholarship Program
- Who Is Eligible: Latino/a college students who have lived in Orange County, California, for at least three years are invited to apply for this scholarship. It is exclusively offered to first-generation college students who are either a recent high school graduate or a community college student planning to transfer to a four-year college and enroll full time. Applicants must demonstrate financial need by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or California Dream Act application.
- Deadline: TBD
- Award Amount: Varies
Scholarships for Latina and Hispanic Women
Not only are Latinas nearly twice as likely to have a bachelor’s degree today than they were in 2003, but, according to the Pew Research Center, Hispanic women are more likely than Hispanic men to have crossed the graduation stage.
There is significant support to help historically excluded women access higher education. Below are some scholarships reserved for Latina and Hispanic women.
Chicana Latina Foundation
- Who Is Eligible: Applicants must self-identify as Chicana and/or Latina women, be enrolled in an accredited program near San Francisco (including community colleges), and have lived at least two years in one of 13 designated California counties. Undergraduate students (including community college) must have a 2.0 GPA; graduate students must have a 2.7 GPA.
- Deadline: TBD
- Award Amount: $1,500-$2,000
Illustrating Awesomeness Scholarship
- Who Is Eligible: Open to women, or gender-nonconforming individuals, of color. Applicants must be currently enrolled, or plan on enrolling during spring semester intake, in an undergraduate program at a college or university in the U.S.
- Deadline: TBD
- Award Amount: $750
National Hispanic Business Women Association Educational Scholarship
- Who Is Eligible: This scholarship is open to female residents of Southern California who are enrolled or planning to enroll at an accredited U.S. college. Applicants must demonstrate a financial need and a commitment to service and academics. A 3.0 GPA is required.
- Deadline: March annually
- Award Amount: Undisclosed
Subject-Specific Scholarships for Hispanic and Latino/a College Students
Narrowing your list of scholarship applications to those that are field-specific is one way to be more competitive in your scholarship search.
Ample funding is available for specific sectors, especially government, communications, business, and fields related to science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). Check out some niche scholarship options for Hispanic and Latino/a students below.
ACS Scholars Program
- Who Is Eligible: Available to individuals of underrepresented groups looking to major in, or are already majoring in, chemistry and related fields. Applicants must be U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents and must be enrolled in an accredited academic institution with a minimum GPA of 3.0. The application includes personal essays and one letter of recommendation.
- Deadline: July annually
- Award Amount: $5,000
NBCUniversal Media Scholarship
- Who Is Eligible: NBCUniversal and the League of United Latin American Citizens offers this scholarship to college sophomores or juniors enrolled in an accredited program full time who are at least 18 years of age. Applicants must have a GPA of 3.0 or higher and must be a U.S. citizen, permanent resident, or eligible to work legally in the U.S. without requiring sponsorship. Available to all majors with an interest in the media and entertainment industry.
- Deadline: TBD
- Award Amount: $5,000
Silicon Valley Community Foundation’s Latinos in Technology Scholarship
- Who Is Eligible: This scholarship supports third- and fourth-year undergraduate Latino/a students in Northern California who have declared a major in a STEM-related field. Applicants should have graduated from a high school in Northern California or be enrolled at a four-year college or university there. You need at least a 3.0 GPA and a demonstrated financial need.
- Deadline: TBD
- Award Amount: Up to $6,000 per year
Government Finance Officers Association Clark Burrus Scholarship
- Who Is Eligible: Graduate or upper-level undergraduate minority students pursuing a career in state or local government finance can pursue this award. Suggested majors include: public administration, finance, political science, economics, business, or nonprofit administration. A letter of recommendation from someone who can speak to your commitment to the public sector is required.
- Deadline: Applications open in November
- Award Amount: $10,000
Prospanica Scholarship
- Who Is Eligible: This award is reserved for business students currently enrolled or planning to enroll in a master’s or doctoral program at an accredited business school in the U.S. or Puerto Rico. Applicants should be committed to uplifting the entire Hispanic community. They must be of Hispanic or Latino/a heritage and be a United States citizen, legal permanent resident, or DACA recipient.
- Deadline: TBD
- Award Amount: Up to $5,000
Scholarships for First-Generation Hispanic and Latino/a College Students
According to Sallie Mae’s 2023 report, “How America Pays for College,” 83% of first-generation college students receiving scholarships said the financial aid made getting to college possible. A financial lifeline can be life-changing. Many scholarships are geared to help the first in a family earn a degree.
Fontana Transport Inc. Scholars Program
- Who Is Eligible: Open to underrepresented first-generation high school students entering college. Applicants must have a minimum 3.5 GPA and plan on attending a four-year college or university in the U.S. to study in a select group of fields, including transportation management. Applicants are not required to be U.S. citizens. A letter of recommendation is optional but “highly suggested.”
- Deadline: March annually
- Award Amount: $5,000
Dorrance Scholarship Program
- Who Is Eligible: This scholarship is for Arizona high school students who will be the first to attend college in their families. Applicants must have been accepted to one of Arizona’s three state universities and agree to live on campus for at least the first two years of their education. Applicants must have a minimum 3.0 GPA and 1110 SAT or 22 ACT composite scores.
- Deadline: Feb. 5
- Award Amount: $12,000 per academic year
Charles Cheesman’s Student Debt Reduction Scholarship
- Who Is Eligible: This scholarship seeks to reduce student loans for African American and Hispanic or Latino/a first-generation students who are currently in college or have graduated with debt. Workers who are no longer students but are trying to pay off student loans are eligible. An essay is required.
- Deadline: Nov. 30
- Award Amount: Approximately $3,500
Additional Financial Resources for Hispanic and Latino/a Students
National Hispanic Institute
NHI collaborates with 80 colleges and universities nationwide and serves 2,000-2,500 Hispanic high school and college students each year through youth leadership programs, financial awards and fellowships, and national and international outreach programs. Approximately 90% of NHI alumni graduate college within five years, according to the organization.
Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities
HACU comprises more than 500 colleges and universities in the U.S., Puerto Rico, Latin America, and Spain, and it is the only national educational association that represents Hispanic-serving institutions (HSIs). The organization works to provide access to high-quality academic and professional programs for Hispanic and Latino/a students.
Excelencia in Education
This organization promotes student engagement, academic achievement, and workforce preparation for the Latino/a postsecondary community. Excelencia in Education comprises a variety of initiatives that aim to improve federal and state policy, education pathways, and financial aid opportunities for historically excluded students.
TheDream.US
This organization works with approximately 80 partner colleges to support undocumented students through their college graduation. Each partner college has an on-campus scholar advisor to help students navigate the college journey and access financial resources. TheDream.US also awards scholarships throughout the academic year, as undocumented students often don’t qualify for most federal or state financial aid.
Frequently Asked Questions About Scholarships for Hispanic and Latino/a Students
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, a person of Hispanic or Latino/a descent is from a Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, Spanish, or South or Central American culture.
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